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Sinclair Discloses 8% Scripps Stake as It Pursues Merger

Regulatory ownership caps at the FCC now loom over the proposal.

Overview

  • Sinclair said in an SEC filing that it bought about 8.2% of Scripps’ Class A non‑voting shares and has held merger talks for months.
  • The company estimated its proposal at roughly three times Scripps’ recent trading price and outlined a nine to twelve month timeline to close.
  • Sinclair stated the combination would require no external financing and projected about $300 million in annual cost savings.
  • Scripps responded that its board will evaluate options that enhance shareholder value and will act to protect the company from opportunistic moves.
  • Any tie‑up would face the FCC’s 39% national reach cap, a rule now under renewed debate, as the local TV sector sees consolidation including Nexstar’s pending Tegna deal.